Wednesday, 28 March 2012

So spring is finally with us with a splash! Amphibians are breeding now over most of the country and it’s nearly time again for the Great Easter Newt Hunt! The aims of the survey are to get garden pond owners looking for and recording the biodiversity in their ponds – particularly the widespread but much-ignored smooth and palmate newts. These two species have the LEAST protection of any of our native herpetofauna and many people don’t even know they have them as the focus is usually on more enigmatic species or the more obvious frogs and toads. “Newt Hunters” are asked to visit their pond for two short visits (one in the day and one at night) and record their newts on the website. More details and newt hunting tips; as well as the results of last year’s survey can also be found on the Great Easter Newt Hunt Website.

This year’s Great Easter Newt Hunt takes place between Friday 6th April and Sunday 15th April. Results can be submitted until the end of April.

The Great Easter Newt Hunt survey is brought to you by a partnership between Amphibian & Reptile Conservation and ARG-UK